Final Volume Mystery Solved - New Question

[MyCarHasAbs]

I figured out why I wasn't getting 5 gallons of beer out of my batches. I was only filling to the 4 gallon marker. This 4 gallons of beer. New question..is this enough headspace for fermentation??

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1424742702.668906.jpgView attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1424742716.403007.jpg

 

[1977Brewer]

Whew, glad we cleared that up. Use a blowoff immediate after pitching. Same headspace I got in my repurposed water bottles.

 

[mliptack]

That depends.

I use the 6gal BB and typically need a blowoff unless I am starting cooler than the yeast prefers and ramp up over the next few days.

 

[MyCarHasAbs]

Can too much head space create off flavors?

So bottom line, that's the right around of headspace..just use a blow off until it settles down every time?

That could explain why I've only had to use a blow off one time out of 8 batches.

 

[jerryboy]

I don't think you'll get off flavors from excessive headspace but with an inadequate amount you can have a mess. I'd move up a size in better bottles, personally, but a blow off tube might work too.

 

[MyCarHasAbs]

Hmm, might just keep it at 4 gallons for now. I'll up grade a little later.

 

[microbusbrewery]

Can too much head space create off flavors?

So bottom line, that's the right around of headspace..just use a blow off until it settles down every time?

That could explain why I've only had to use a blow off one time out of 8 batches.

Too much headspace is usually more of a concern if you're going to be bulk aging the beer. If you're doing a "normal" fermentation and packaging after a few weeks, a little extra headspace won't matter much (assuming you aren't pulling the bung out every day or something along those lines). Too little headspace where you're losing a ton of beer to blowoff...now that is a concern